Saudi leads relief efforts for Bangladesh

BANGLADESH, Oil-rich Saudi Arabia led relief efforts for cyclone victims in Bangladesh Monday, pledging 100 million dollars in aid as US ships powered to the disaster zone with dozens of helicopters for evacuations.

Saudi King Abdullah also ordered the dispatch of food, medical and other relief assistance to the victims in the impoverished South Asian Muslim nation, according to a statement from the royal court.

The Jeddah-based Organisation of the Islamic Conference has called on governments and civil bodies in its 57 member states to send urgent assistance after Thursday's collossal storm in Bangladesh that swept entire villages away.

Soldiers and relief workers raced Monday to get aid to millions left homeless by the cyclone, as officials said the death toll had topped 3,100 and was certain to keep rising.

According to the Red Cross, the final toll could be anywhere between 5,000 and 10,000.

Bangladesh's top disaster management official told AFP on Monday that several nations had promised help, including "the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, Sweden and of course Saudi Arabia".

"We have received promises of 140 million dollars of foreign aid which includes 100 million dollars from Saudi Arabia and five million dollars from Britain," said Ayub Mia, the secretary for disaster management and relief.

Riyadh, Tuesday, AFP